quote:
Originally posted by oleg:
Well, population growth is a difference between birth rate and mortality. When people settle a new world, it is mostly young, healthy people with all normal human instincts. Not surprisingly, population jumps in first years.
Yes, although I don't think the SE4 pop levels can be taken literally, and make sense under a critical eye. I think it only makes sense as an abstract measure of effective working population, including their equipment and the level of infrastructure and other development on the planet.
That is, even 400 years from now, I don't expect one million effective, educated citizens to become two million effective, educated citizens, in one year. That would require some amazing technology to accelerate fertilization, growth and learning (and automatic cultural brainwashing). Genetic Abuse Tech Level 12 and Cybernetic Societal Abuse Tech Level 12?
The way I see it, it's just that if you dump a bunch of colonists on an undeveloped planet, they have an immense project ahead of them to develop even enough shelter, farms and industry to keep themselves alive. The initial pop growth I see as this initial work, rather than a hyperactive breeding frenzy. If everyone got pregnant with twins immediately after landing, it would be a disaster and not a great triumph for a colony.
PvK